21 February 2011

The Elms Opens

A new voluntary, community and social enterprise hub for Cornwall - The Elms - opens today (21 February 2011).

The project has been developed by Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C) at a cost of £1.5m - with more than £1 million of that coming from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Programme - by renovating and refurbishing an out of use building.

Contributions have also been received from The Clothworkers' Foundation, The Arts Council and The Social Investment Business. Other key partners include Cornwall Council and the Skills Funding Agency.

Situated at 61, Green Lane, Redruth, The Elms will offer services for individuals and community groups including information, advice and guidance; learning from skills for life to degrees; pathways to employment and community development activities for all ages.  In addition to the community facilities The Elms will provide office space, a VCS hub for knowledge exchange, and a social enterprise and self employment facility.

An Open Day for any members of the public and for budding community activists or groups will be held on St Piran's Day, Saturday 5th March.  Everyone, young and old is welcome to come in for coffee and cake and to see the activities that will be on offer.

Tarn Lamb, Chief Executive of CN4C said: "This is great news for grassroots community groups across Cornwall and for the people of Redruth.  The Elms will demonstrate partnership working in action by the regeneration of a dilapidated building in the centre of Redruth into a state of the art community hub providing facilities for groups and individuals of all ages."

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: "This new hub will provide strong support for the voluntary and community sectors which play a significant part in our economy."

Over a five year period 16 jobs will be created directly as a result of the delivery of this project.  It will also support the growth of the VCS as a sector in Cornwall's economy by giving security of tenure to CN4C, and other smaller voluntary sector organisations.  It will enable the sharing of key back room resources such as ICT, HR and finance. It will also create a community resource to support the most disadvantaged in the area to gain skills and create employment opportunities.